Teenagers arrested in overnight raids targeting railway robbers – London

Six teenagers linked to dozens of violent robberies were arrested in overnight raids by British Transport Police (BTP) as part of our ongoing work to tackle robberies on the on the London rail network.

The teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, aged between 15 and 17 were each arrested on suspicion of multiple linked counts of robbery, attempted robbery, and theft on the network in London over the last 12 months. All six have been bailed until October.

At 3am on Wednesday 16 July, 60 officers from the forces Operational Support Unit (OSU) attended four addresses in East London to catch criminals while they slept.

The arrests were a part of Operation Flycatcher, one of the countless operations BTP have run throughout the year to catch groups of serial robbers and thieves.

Later that same morning, officers attended the addresses of two other teenagers linked to Op Flycatcher who were also wanted for several counts of robbery, attempted robbery, and theft.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, 72% of known robbery offenders were aged 18 or under, highlighting the fact that not only are large amounts of the victims’ teenagers, but so are the offenders.

Many of these teenagers have committed several robberies within the same year, with over 100 individuals being responsible for two or more robberies each within the same year.

Only days after Op Flycatcher, BTP officers engaged in a week of action to again target serial robbery offenders across the Capital.

Over four days, 13 more teenagers were arrested on suspicion of robbery, attempted robbery, theft, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Chief Inspector Nick Brandon said: "The public's safety is our number one priority, and we work tirelessly throughout the year and around the clock to keep the travelling public safe.

“The ages of the offenders is extremely concerning, and we hope that seeing other kids face the consequences of their actions will turn some would-be robbers away from a life of criminality.

“We have one offender who, in the last policing year, is linked to 19 separate robbery offences. This is why we encourage every victim of robbery, or those who have seen a robbery take place, to report it to us.

“Every report we receive can help to direct our patrols to where they are most needed to keep the public safe, so if you need us talk to a member of staff or an officer, or text us on 61016.

"Our message is clear; if you commit a robbery on the railway network and seek to profit at the detriment of others, we will do everything in our power to secure justice for the victims."

In an emergency, always dial 999.